1.15 [15] 景公欲祠灵山河伯以祷雨晏子谏

齐景公打算祭祀灵山河伯来祈祷降雨，晏子进谏

【原文】

齐大旱逾时，景公召群臣问曰：“天不雨久矣，民且有饥色。吾使人卜（云）〔之〕，祟在高山广水。寡人欲少赋敛以祠灵山，可乎？”群臣莫对。晏子进曰：“不可，祠此无益也。夫灵山固以石为身，以草木为发，天久不雨，发将焦，身将热，彼独不欲雨乎？祠之（无）〔何〕益。”〔景〕公曰：“不然，吾欲祠河伯，可乎？”晏子曰：“不可。〔夫〕河伯以水为国，以鱼鳖为民，天久不雨，〔水〕泉将下，百川〔将〕竭，国将亡，民将灭矣，彼独不欲雨乎？祠之何益？”景公曰：“今为之奈何？”晏子曰：“君诚避宫殿暴露，与灵山河伯共忧，其幸而雨乎！”于是景公出野（居）暴露，三日，天果大雨，民尽得种时。景公曰：“善哉，晏子之言，可无用乎？其维有德。”

【今译】

齐国大旱过了农时，齐景公召集群臣问道：“上天很久不降雨了，百姓面有饥色。我命人去占卜，说是祸祟（灾祸）在高山大水之间。我想稍微增加一些赋税来祭祀灵山，可以吗？”群臣都默不作声。晏子进谏说：“不可以，祭祀灵山没什么帮助。灵山以石头为身体，以草木为头发，上天长时间不下雨，它的头发快要焦枯了，身体快要热坏了，它不是也盼着下雨吗？所以祭祀它没什么帮助。”景公说：“不行的话，我打算祭祀河伯，可以吗？”晏子说：“不可以。河伯以水为国家，以鱼鳖为百姓，上天长时间不下雨，泉水下降，河流枯竭，它的国家将要衰亡，百姓将要灭绝，它难道不希望下雨吗？祭祀它有什么好处？”景公说：“那现在怎么办呢？”晏子说：“如果您能诚心离开宫殿，到野外露宿，和灵山、河伯共同承担忧患，也许就能侥幸下雨！”于是景公离开宫殿露宿于野外，过了三天，果然下了一场大雨，百姓全都得以及时耕种。景公说：“好啊，晏子的话怎能不采纳呢？他是个有德行的人啊。”

There was a great drought in Qi for an extended period of time. Duke Jing summoned all his m inisters and asked them: “Rain has not fallen from Heaven for a long time,and the people appear to be nearly famished. I had someone divine in the matter and he said that the noxious influence is in the high mountains and the w ide waters. I would like to collect a small assessment in order to offer a sacrifice to the Num inous Mountain. Is this permissible?”

Not one of the various ministers answered. Yanzi stepped forward and said: “It would not be proper. There is no advantage in offering this sacrifice. In fact,the Numinous Mountain has stones as its body,and grass and trees as its hair. When rain has not fallen from Heaven for a long time,its hair w ill be scorched and its body w ill be seething. How would he alone not wish for rain? What would be the point of offering him a sacrifice?”

Duke Jing said: “If not so,then I w ish to sacrifice to the Lord of the Yellow River. Is this perm issible?”

Yanzi said: “It would not be proper. There is no advantage in offering it a sacrifice. The Lord of the Yellow River has water as his state and fish and turtles as his people. When rain has not fallen from Heaven for a long time,the level of the springs w ill recede and all the water will dry up. His country w ill perish and his people w ill die. How could he himself not w ish for rain? What would be the point of offering the Lord of the Yellow River a sacrifice?”

Duke Jing said: “But what alternatives do I have now?”

Yanzi replied: “M y Lord,were you to really leave your palace and expose yourself to the sun,sharing the worries of the Numinous Mountain and the Lord of the Yellow River—isn’t it possible that this m ight be considered a blessing,and rain might fall?”

Thereupon,Duke Jing went out to the open field and exposed himself to the sun. In fact,after three days,Heaven did pour down heavy rain and all the people could sow at the right time.^[4] Duke Jing said: “Excellent! How could Yanzi’s words not be put to use? He alone has virtue.”

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注释

[1]“Num inous Mountain,” (灵山),is located twenty m iles North-East of Linqu 临朐district in the present Shandong province.

[2]He-bo 河伯—the God of the Yellow River.

[3]Item 1.15 [15] ↔ Shuoyuan,18.11/153/16. For an episode that has the same structure as this item but different protagonists and a different ending,see Hanshi waizhuan,3.8/17/3.

[4]The sim ilarities between the present episode and the story about Honi the Circle Maker from the Babylonian Talmud (BT) tractate Ta’anit 19a; 23a is striking. According to the latter story,there was a prolonged drought that the inhabitants of the country were unable to relieve. As a last resort,they turned to Honi. Honi drew a large circle in the ground and p laced him self inside it. He called out to God,saying,as a threat,that he would not leave the circle until God would cause rain to fall. Eventually,God obeyed. See also Mozi,4.3/29/10.